Construction cranes in Singapore may have to be fitted with “black boxes” as a safety requirement. Known as data loggers, the devices can record the load of cranes, to ensure operators stick to safety rules.
To protect your investment and to avoid costly litigation should a crane fail a data recorder along with a camera can protect owners from poor operators who take unessassary risks.  On the flipside, this also protects good operators who are put in cranes that are not properly maintained.  With black blocks accidents can be attibuted to the crane structurally  failing, operator error, operating on unsafe grounds, maintanance issues and operating in inclement weather.Â
SINGAPORE: Construction cranes in Singapore may have to be fitted with “black boxes” as a safety requirement.
Known as data loggers, the devices can record the load of cranes, to ensure operators stick to safety rules.
The device can produce data to show how many times operators overload their cranes – and by how much.
One data logger costs at least S$21,000.
This was revealed at the third Crane Safety Symposium held at the Singapore Expo on Tuesday.
The Manpower Ministry is currently holding a pilot trial, before deciding if such devices should be made compulsory.
The Land Transport Authority is already doing this with crane operators on its Thomson Line project.
Henry Ho, workplace safety and health manager at Shanghai Tunnel Engineering, said: “The crane operators are notified that they’re closely monitored 24/7 by this data logger. And we’ve seen a trend in crane operators behaving very well – they’re operating the cranes safely and there’s less overloading. And with less overloading, it means lifting works are being carried out safely.”
A crane collapsed at the National Art Gallery worksite on Sep 30, 2013. Photo: Alvin Chong
This was revealed at the third Crane Safety Symposium held at the Singapore Expo today (Oct 29).
The Land Transport Authority is already doing this with crane operators on its Thomson Line project.
Mr Henry Ho, workplace safety and health manager at Shanghai Tunnel Engineering, said: “The crane operators are notified that they’re closely monitored 24/7 by this data logger. And we’ve seen a trend in crane operators behaving very well — they’re operating the cranes safely and there’s less overloading. And with less overloading, it means lifting works are being carried out safely.†CHANNEL NEWSASIA
